Size box having additional pressure rolls



3, 1968 GRIFFIN, SR 3,396,444

SIZE BOX HAVING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ROLLS Filed Aug. 26, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2o 22. 4s 46 71 3 c. 54 Y 9 5 65 058 l 42 Ka vs 64 INVENTOR: IRA L.GT2JF-'F-'\N, 52.

ATTORNEYS Aug. 13, 1968 l. GRIFFIN, SR 3,395,444

SIZE BOX HAVING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ROLLS Filed Aug. 26, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0% 9n fiiw \f INV ENT OR ATTORNEYS IRA L. GmFFm, 52.

a m f. w OO 6 MM M 3 J NW 42 1 1 n a Y 8 5 111 i NM. mwmw United States Patent 3,396,444 SIZE BOX HAVING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ROLLS Ira L. Griflin, Sr., Charlotte, N.C., assignor to Ira L. Griflin & Sons, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Aug. 26, 1966, Ser. No. 575,411 7 Claims. (CI. 28-28) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An additional pair of pressure rolls is positioned between the usual lower squeeze rolls of the size box. The first additional roll acts as a combination immersion and squeeze roll and the second additional roll acts as a combination stripper regulator and squeeze roll.

This invention relates generally to the sizing of textile yarn and more particularly to improved means for applying the proper amount of sizing solution to the yarn as it passes through the size box and while the yarn is fed through the size box at a high rate of speed.

For many years, the standard size box has included an immersion roll positioned in advance of spaced apart pairs of upper and lower squeeze rolls with the lower squeeze rolls being at least partially immersed in the size solution. In this conventional type box the sheet of yarn is immersed in the size solution and then successively passes through the nips of the first and second pairs of squeeze rolls. This type size box has been satisfactory for sizing cotton yarn at relatively slow speeds; however, as the use of synthetic yarns and yarns formed of a mixture of synthetic and natural fibers have become more Widespread, the continued use of this type size box is not practical.

Attempts have been made to develop improved size boxes which operate at higher speeds and which are adaptable for sizing various types of yarns. While some of these later developed size boxes have been intended for use in sizing several types of yarns and others operate at increased speeds, they have not been satisfactory for sizing a wide range of different types of yarns at high speeds.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved size box which can be easily adapted to uniformly apply the required amount of size to a Wide variety of different types of yarns as the sheet of yarn is rapidly passed through the size box at a very high speed.

In accordance with this invention, a special arrangement of immersion and squeeze rolls is provided. These rolls include a pair of additional pressure rolls positioned between the usual lower squeeze rolls to at times provide additional size-applying and yarn-squeezing actions on the yarn. This roll arrangement also permits the number of squeezes to be reduced or the amount of pressure applied at any of the squeeze points to be varied so that the present size box may be used with a wider variety of different types of yarns and thereby meet the requirements of the majority of the mills.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the size box of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the size box and illustrating the path of travel of the sheet of yarn as it passes therethrough;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary isometric view of the roll arrangement, removed from the frame of the size box to more clearly illustrate the mounting of the additional pressure rolls; and

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 2.

Generally, the size box of the present invention includes spaced apart respective pairs of upper and lower squeeze rolls 20, 21 and 22, 23 (FIGURE 2) with the upper squeeze rolls 20, 22 being supported for movement into and out of pressure engagement with the corresponding lower squeeze rolls 21, 23. The lower squeeze rolls 21, 23 are at least partially immersed in the size solution S. A first auxiliary squeeze roll 25 (hereinafter referred to as a combination immersion and squeeze roll) is supported between the lower squeeze rolls 21, 23 and is movable into and out of pressure engagement with the first lower squeeze roll 21. This roll 25 is preferably at least partially submerged in the size solution 5. A second auxiliary squeeze roll 26 (hereinafter referred to as a combination squeeze and stripper regulator roll) is also supported between the lower squeeze rolls 21, 23 at a level above the size solution and for swinging movement into and out of pressure engagement with the second lower squeeze roll 23.

As the sheet of yarns Y passes through the size box, it passes through the nip of the first pair of squeeze rolls 20, 21, beneath the rolls 25, 26, and then through the nip of the rolls 22, 23. In this normal travel, four squeezes may be applied to the yarn and the size is alternately applied to opposite sides of the yarn, as will be presently described, so that a uniform application of the proper amount of size solution may be applied to any type yarn.

The size box includes side frame members 30, 31 which are supported in spaced apart relationship by transverse support beams 32, 33 and 35 (FIGURE 2) suitably connected at opposite ends of the frame members 30, 31. The frame members 32, 33 support opposite ends of a suitable size tank 36 which is normally insulated and provided with suitable heating means such as steam coils, not shown, for maintaining the size solution S at the required temperature.

The lower squeeze rolls 21, 23 are preferably stainless steel and are provided with outwardly projecting shafts which are supported in suitable bearings 40, 41 (FIG- URE 1) that are in turn fixed on the side frames 30, 31 so that the rolls 21, 23 are rotatably supported in the size tank 36 and at least partially immersed in the size solution S. A suitable drive means, not shown, is connected to the lower squeeze rolls 21, 23 to impart rotation there to in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURE 2 and at the required speed.

As the yarn Y enters the size box, it passes over a pair of guide rolls 42, 43 and beneath a tension or dancing rod 44. The guide rolls 42, 43 are suitably supported for rotation adjacent opposite ends and on the side frames 39, 31 and the tension rod 44 is supported for vertical movement at opposite ends in guide members 45 which are fixed to the inner surfaces of the side frames 30, 31. The tension rod 44 is provided to take up any slack which should develop in the yarn and also holds the yarn in contact with the guide rollers 42, 43.

The upper squeeze roll 20 is preferably rubber covered and opposite ends are provided with shaft portions which are rotatably supported in the free ends of pressure arms 46, 47, the other ends of which are pivotally supported on bearing standards 48, 49 that are in turn fixed on the side frame members 30, 31. The upper ends of control rods 51, 52 are suitably connected to medial portions of the respective arms 46, 47 and their lower ends are suitably connected to diaphragm type pressure control cylinders 53, 54 which are supported on the side frames 30, 31. Air or fluid pressure may be directed into the upper portions of the cylinders 53, 54 to increase to any desired degree the amount of pressure with which the upper roll engages the lower roll 21. Fluid pressure may also be directed into the lower portions of the cylinders 53, 54 to decrease the pressure of the upper roll 20 on the lower roll 21 or to raise the upper roll 20 out of contact with the lower roll 21.

The upper squeeze roll 22 is also preferably rubber covered and provided with a pressure-applying means similar to that described for the upper squeeze roll 20. This pressure-applying means includes pressure arms 56, 57, bearing standards 58, 59, control rods 61, 62, and pressure control cylinders 63, 64. The cylinders 63, 64 may be operated in the same manner described for the cylinders 53, 54 to apply any desired amount of pressure on the upper squeeze roll 22 against the lower squeeze roll 23 or to raise the squeeze roll 22 out of engagement with the squeeze roll 23, if desired.

The combination immersion and squeeze roll 25 is preferably rubber covered and is supported for rotation adjacent opposite ends in the lower ends of swing arms 65, 66 (FIGURE 3). The upper ends of the arms 65, 66 are fixed on the inner ends of respective control shafts 67, 68, the medial portions of which are supported for oscillation in bearing block members 7 0, 71 and 72, 73. Lever arms '74, 75 are fixed at one end of the outer ends of the control shafts 67, 68 and their other ends overlie the upper ends of piston rods 76, 77 of fluid pressure cylinders 78, 79 which are suitably supported on the respective side frames 30, 31.

The bearing blocks 70, 71 and 72, 73 are suitably secured to the upper ends of respective vertically disposed slide plates 80, 81. The slide plates 80, 81 are supported for vertical sliding movement in guideways 82, 83 (FIG- URE 4) that are in turn fixed to the inner surfaces of the respective side frames 30, 31. Racks 84, 85 are secured to the outer surfaces of the respective slide plates 80, 81 and are engaged by pinions 86, 87 (FIGURE 3) which are fixed to the medial portions of drive shafts 90, 91.

The drive shafts 90, 91 are suitably supported on the outer portions of the respective side frames 30, 31 and are drivingly connected to a transverse drive shaft 92 (FIGURE 2) which is provided with hand wheels 93, 94- at opposite ends thereof. The hand wheels 93, 94 may be rotated to impart rotation to the pinions 86, 87 and thereby simultaneously raise or lower the slide plates 80, 81 and move the roll 25 between the lowered solid line position and the raised dotted line position shown in FIG- URE 2. When the roll 25 is lowered to the position shown in FIGURE 2, fluid pressure may be applied to the cylinders 78, 79 to swing the roll 25 into pressure engagement with the roll 21 with any desired amount of pressure.

The combination squeeze and stripper regulator roll 26 is preferably rubber covered and is rotatably supported adjacent opposite ends in the lower ends of swing arms 95, 96, the upper ends of which are fixed on the inner ends of respective control shafts 97, 98. The medial portions of the control shafts 97, 98 are supported for oscillation in the bearing blocks 70, 71 and 72, 73 and have control levers 99, 100 fixed to their outer ends. The free ends of the control arms 99, 100 overlie upper ends of piston rods 101, 102 of fluid pressure cylinders 103, 104 which are suitably supported on the side frames 30, 31. As the slide plates 80, 81 are raised and lowered, the roll 26 will also be moved between the lowered solid line position and the raised dotted line position shown in FIG- URE 2. As the roll 26 is positioned against the roll 23, as shown in FIGURE 2, fluid pressure may be applied to the cylinders 103, 104 to maintain the roll 26 in pressure engagement with the roll 23 under any desired degree of pressure.

Following the path of travel of the yarn Y, as shown in FIGURE 2, the roll 21 brings up a supply of size as it rotates so that the size is first supplied to the sheet of yarn just prior to the point at which it passes between the nip of the rolls 20, 21. The amount of squeezing pressure on the yarns at the nip of the rolls 20, 21 may be suitably adjusted by means of the cylinders 53, 54. The yarns stay in engagement with the surface of the roll 21 until they pass through the nip of the rolls 21, 25, where they are transferred to the roll 25. As the yarns pass beneath the roll 25, they pass into and through the size solution S. As the roll 25 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, it picks up and carries over some size which is applied to the yarns while they are in engagement with the roll 21 and just prior to passing between the nips of rolls 21, 25.

The yarns Y extend from the roll 25 to the roll 26 and as the roll 23 rotates in a clockwise direction, some size solution is brought up on the surface of the roll and applied to the yarns just prior to their passing through the nip of the rolls 23, 26 where the yarns are again squeezed. After the yarns pass through the nip of the rolls 23, 26, they remain in engagement with the roll 23 until after they pass through the nip of the rolls 22, 23. The amount of squeezing pressure on the rolls 25, 26 may be suitably varied by means of the cylinders 78, 79 and 103, 104. The amount of squeezing pressure applied to the yarns at the nip of the rolls 22, 23 may also be suitably varied by means of the cylinders 63, 64.

With the rolls in the position shown in FIGURE 2, the yarns Y are subjected to four squeezing actions and size solution is applied to the yarns at least four times, the size solution being alternately applied to both sides of the yarns. In accordance with the type of yarn being run and the amount of size solution to be applied to the yarn, the speed of the size box may be varied and/or the pressure of the various rolls may be adjusted to obtain the desired results. In some instances, as where a very light application of size solution is desired, it may be desirable to maintain the upper squeeze rolls 20, 22 in a raised inoperative position or to run the size box with these rolls under very light pressure. Thus, the arrangement of rolls in the size box of the present invention permits a wide diversity of operation to properly apply the correct amount of size to a wide variety of different types of textile yarns and also permits high speed application of size to the yarns.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A size box adapted to contain a supply of sizing solution therein and including (a) first and second spaced apart squeeze rolls at least partially submerged in the sizing solution,

(b) an immersion squeeze roll supported between said squeeze rolls and being at least partially submerged in the sizing solution,

(c) means for moving said immersion squeeze roll into pressure engagement with said first squeeze roll to form a nip therewith,

(d) a stripper regulator roll supported between said squeeze rolls and above the level of the sizing solution,

(e) means for moving said stripper regulator roll into pressure engagement with said second squeeze roll to form a nip therewith, and

(f) guide means for directing a sheet of textile yarns over said first squeeze roll, through the nip of said first squeeze roll with said immersion squeeze roll, beneath said immersion squeeze roll, through the nip of said stripper regulator roll and said second squeeze roll, and over said second squeeze roll.

2. A size box according to claim 1 including (g) first and second upper squeeze rolls positioned in substantially vertical alignment above said first and second spaced apart lower squeeze rolls and forming corresponding nips therewith, and

(h) means for regulating the pressure engagement of said first and second upper squeeze rolls with said first and second spaced apart squeeze rolls.

3. A size box according to claim 1 including (i) means supporting said immersion squeeze roll and said stripper regulator roll for substantial vertical movement between an operative position with said rolls between said first and second spaced apart squeeze rolls and an inoperative position with said rolls substantially above the level of said first and second spaced apart squeeze rolls.

4. A size box according to claim 1 including (g) first and second upper squeeze rolls positioned in substantially vertical alignment above said first and second spaced apart squeeze rolls and forming corresponding nips therewith,

(h) means for regulating the pressure engagement of said first and second upper squeeze rolls with said first and second spaced apart squeeze rolls, and

(i) means supporting said immersion squeeze roll and said stripper regulator roll for substantial vertical movement between an operative position with said rolls between said first and second spaced apart squeeze rolls and an inoperative position with said rolls substantially above the level of said first and second spaced apart squeeze rolls.

5. A size box according to claim 4 wherein said support means (i) includes (1) a common bearing means supported for vertical movement at each end of said immersion squeeze roll and said stripper regulator roll,

(2) swing arms disposed in a substantially vertical position at opposite ends of said immersion squeeze roll, the upper ends of said swing arms being carried by said common bearing means and the lower ends thereof rotatably supporting said immersion squeeze roll, and

(3) swing arms disposed in a substantially vertical position at opposite ends of said stripper regulator roll, the upper ends of said swing arms being carried by said common bearing means and the lower ends thereof rotatably supporting said stripper regulator roll.

6. A size box according to claim 5 including a size tank for containing the size solution, and wherein said swing arms (2) and (3) are positioned to extend down into said size tank when said immersion squeeze roll and said stripper regulator roll are in the operative positions.

7. A size box according to claim 6 including (1) a slide supported in a substantially vertical position outside opposite sides of said size tank and having said common bearing means supported on the upper ends thereof,

(2) a rack carried on each of said slides, and

(3) a pinion in engagement with each of said slides,

said pinions being rotatable to raise and lower the said slides and said immersion squeeze roll and said stripper regulator roll.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,698,984 1/1955 Grifiin 2828 2,862,280 12/1958 Suggs 2828 2,884,893 5/ 1959 Kabelitz 2828 X 2,977,662 4/ 1961 Freeze et al 2828 3,036,359 5/1962 Cooker 2828 3,284,870 11/1966 Griffin 2828 LOUIS K. RIMRODT, Primary Examiner. 

